Apparatus for pressing articles of clothing

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to an ironing press which includes a former having a shape in accordance with the article of clothing to be pressed, the former being provided with means for dispensing steam into the garment, and there being associated with the former a pressing unit including a pressing plate of a hollow construction and closed by an elastic membrane which is secured thereto in sealed relation, the pressing plate having an inner surface which is selectively heated, and there being associated with the pressing plate vacuum and pressure means wherein the membranes can be first drawn into contact with the heated inner surface and then outwardly expanded so as to conform to and around the former under pressure to press the article of clothing positioned on the former.

United States Patent 1191 Engelbart 1451 Apr. 15, 1975 [22] Filed:

[ APPARATUS FOR PRESSING ARTICLES OF CLOTHING [75] Inventor: WilhelmEngelbart,

Seelscheid-Nackhausen, Germany [73] Assignee: Hoffman Rheem MaschinenGmbH, Cologne, Germany July 23, 1974 [21] Appl. No: 491,049

3,757,440 9/1973 Fresard et a1 38/17 Primary Examiner-Geo. V. LarkinAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Diller, Brown, Ramik &

Wight ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to an ironing press whichincludes a former having a shape in accordance with the article ofclothing to be pressed, the former being provided with means fordispensing steam into the garment, and there being associated with theformer a pressing unit including a pressing plate of a hollowconstruction and closed by an elastic membrane which is secured theretoin sealed relation, the pressing plate having an inner surface which isselectively heated, and there being associated with the pressing platevacuum and pressure means wherein the membranes can be first drawn intocontact with the heated inner surface and then outwardly expanded so asto conform to and around the former under pressure to press the articleof clothing positioned on the former.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEQAFR 1 mm 3 77 151 sasmaarq FIG.2

PMENIEUAPR 1 5197s F IG.6

PIC-3.8

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING ARTICLES OF CLOTHING The invention relates ingeneral to an apparatus for pressing articles of clothing, and moreespecially to an apparatus for pressing outer clothing, such as jackets,costumes, coats and the like, with a pressing plate.

One known ironing press has a hollow upper pressing plate to which avacuum can be connected. This hollow pressing plate is closed off by atensioned but completely pervious membrane, which is formed of a wiremesh in association with a flannel covering or the like. The anchoringor bracing of such a membrane is made very taut with the result thatformers having strong profiles cannot be used. With this pressingarrangement, the procedure which is followed is that after applying thepressing plate with the porous covering, the steam supplied through thelower pressing plate or bottom plate can be withdrawn by suction throughthe garment at the upper pressing plate. The suction effect of thepressing plate constructed as a hollow body serves for dissipating thesteam passing through the garment. When using formers having strongprofiles, the previous covering of the pressing plate constructed as ahollow body prevents the pressing of a garment at a rightangle on theflanks of the former by the membrane.

With another known ironing press, the pressing plate constructed as ahollow body is closed on the underside and a closed air cushion isarranged between the plate and the membrane, which cushion can be fed bya medium under pressure. With this construction of the pressing means ofthe ironing press, the bottom pressing plate can only have a continuousshallow curvature. Strongly profiled formers for the pressing of shapedarticles of clothing consequently cannot be used with this arrangement,and also because the upper pressing plate, on account of the effectiveclamping rim of the membrane, in practice does not extend over a largerarea than the bottom pressing plate.

It is the object of the invention to make possible the pressing ofgarments on profiled formers by means of an impervious membrane in asingle pressing operation and under the effect of a constant pressingpressure operating at right-angles to the surface and to prevent anyformation of condensate. Accordingly, in connection with a pressingapparatus having a hollow member which is open in the direction of itsoperative side and is closed with a sealing action by means of animpervious elastic membrane, on which hollow member the membraneco-operates with the bottom plate when pressurized medium is admitted tothe pressing plate, the operative surface of the bottom plate beingsmaller than the membrane surface clamped on the pressing plate, steambeing supplied to the bottom plate for moistening the garment, theinvention is characterised in that the membrane can be retracted bymeans of a vacuum in the cavity of the pressing plate until the membranebears directly on that surface of the hollow body of the pressing platewhich is facing the membrane, the internal surface of the hollowpressing plate can be heated, and that the membrane surface between itsclamping means and the contour of the bottom plate which receives thegarment and which is formed as a profiled former is so large that,during the pressing operation, it can also be pressed on to surfaceswhich extend perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the mainsurface of the profiled former and on to side surfaces.

By such a construction of the pressing apparatus having a membrane,those pressing surfaces of a strongly profiled former which are directedtowards different angular positions are equally well covered with anequally good pressing pressure in relation to all pressing surfaces ofthis former, the appropriate pressing action resulting from the factthat the pressing pressure is always effective perpendicular to thepressing sur' face. Another result which is obtained is that thegarments and more particularly outer garments can be satisfactorilyapplied to and removed from the strongly profiled former withoutinterfering with the membrane serving as the pressing member with astationary position of the pressing plate. At the same time, provisionis made for the flexible pressing surface of the pressing plate to havethe required temperature, without it being necessary for this purpose touse the pressurized medium as a heat carrier. The retention of themembrane under suction pressure on the upper surface of the hollow bodyof the pressing plate, with the latter being simultaneously heated,leads to a double action. In the first plate, the membrane is removedfrom that space which is situated above the strongly profiled former andwhich has to be available for freely handling the garment which is to bepressed. In the second plate, by the impervious membrane being held bysuction on the top surface of the hollow body, the membrane is heated toa temperature by which the subsequent pressing operation issubstantially assisted. In this way, the membrane is already subjectedto a heating effect in the time during which the garment to be pressedis laid on the former. The pressing operation is effected from the startwith a warm or strongly heated membrane. This has the additional effectthat it is sufficient for the garment to be pressed to be moistened onlythrough the bottom plate without there being any danger of formation ofcondensate in the garment.

The depth of the cavity of the pressing plate advantageously exceeds theheight and breadth of the profiled former. In this connection, depthscan be used which correspond to the height with a semi-circular form ofthe hollow body or even exceed this height. In this way, due to theoversize of the surface of the membrane by contrast with the surface ofthe former, such a degree of mobility is produced for the membrane thatthe latter, under the pressure effect, conforms universally andsatisfactorily to the marginal portions of the strongly profiled formerand thus to the corresponding parts of the article of clothing.

The membrane may be of unequal thicknesses for the purpose of increasingthe ability to conform to predetermined surface portions. In this way,it is possible to use different sizes of formers with one and the samemembrane, i.e. pressing plate. The formers can be quickly replaced ontheir holding means. By way of example, the formers can be kept in storeon a straight or revolving track, so that the required size of former isready for use in a simple and rapid manner by suitable movement of theholding means for said formers.

According to another feature of the invention, these segments can befitted between the membrane and former, these segments being connectedto the pressing plate holding the membrane. By the segments, which areformed of a contour corresponding to the mold plate and the article ofclothing, certain portions of the surface of the former can be protectedfrom the pressure of the stressed membrane. This applies for example asregards surfaces in the region of the sleeve or for surfaces on whichthere are buttons, tapes or the like. By inserting the segments abovethe garment which is laid on the former, those subjacent areas of thegarment are kept free from the pressure exerted by means of themembrane; consequently, they are not exposed to the ironing by pressing.This is more especially desirable with the so-called intermediateironing operations. Since the membrane is very pliable, and because ofits construction, the ironing or pressing pressure is exerted on thegarment by means of the membrane directly at the segment surfaces. Theinsertion of the segments can be effected in various ways, for example,by these segments being arranged to be displaceable or pivotable.However, loose segment parts can also be considered, which loose segmentparts are introduced through slots in the pressing plate and areconnected fast to the said plate by clamping devices and the like.

The apparatus according to the invention can be used in such a way thatthe membrane and former are provided in a horizontal or even in avertical arrangement.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appearthe nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of anironing press according to the invention.

FIG. la is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating a ratio between sizesof the pressing plate and former.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing one constructional formof the pressing plate according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a detail concerningthe fixing of the membrane on the pressing plate.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view with parts in section of anotherembodiment of the construction of the pressing plate with the ironingpress according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of an ironing pressaccording to the invention illustrating the segments to be used forkeeping certain surfaces of the garment free from the pressure of themembrane.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of an ironing pressaccording to the invention in a vertical arrangement.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken generally on theline VIIVII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary diagrammatic elevational view showing thearrangement of insertable segments for keeping parts of the garment freefrom the membrane pressure.

With reference to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a pressingapparatus 1, for the pressing of garments, more especially outergarments such as jackets, costumes, coats and the like, having apressing plate 2 which cooperates with a former 3, which rests, so'thatit can be replaced, on a fixed support 4 of a table 5 of a frame or anironing press 6. The pressing plate 2 has on its underside a cavity 7,which is sealed off underneath and on the free side by an imperviouselastic membrane 8. The membrane is secured all around the marginsthereof to a housing 9 of the pressing plate so as to be sealed off.This can, for example, be effected by clamping the membrane 8, using anelastic intermediate member 10 and holding devices 11 as well asscrewbolts 12, as shown in FIG. 3. The clamping of the elastic membranemust be so tight that the membrane 8 is held in air-tight manner evenwith strongest possible bulging at the clamping margins.

The bottom 13 of the cavity 7 is under the action of a heating means 14,as shown in FIG. 2. The heating means 14 may be in the form of anelectrical heating arrangement, pipes fed with steam, an infra-redheating arrangement, or the like. The cavity 7 is connected to a suctionpipe 15 by which it is possible to place the cavity 7 under a vacuumwhich must be of such a strength that the elastic membrane can becompletely pulled or drawn into the space or cavity 7 as far as thebottom surface 13. The membrane 8 must in itself be so elastic that itis expanded to such an extent under the influence of the vacuum that itis able to bear against the heated bottom surface 13. The pressing plate2 can be enclosed by a hood 16.

Seen in plan view, the dimensions of the membrane 8, i.e., the edgelimits for the membrane in relation to the surface of the former 3 areso much larger all around that the membrane 8 is able to conform to theformer 3 on all sides under the action of a perpendicularly actingbearing pressure. This applies both as regards surfaces which areperpendicular or substantially perpendicular, which are raised above themain surface of the former 3, and for the side surfaces of the former.FIG. la illustrates one embodiment of the relative dimensions of thesurfaces of the membrane relatively to the former in projection.Therefore, between the inner edge of the cavity 7 of the pressing plate2 and all around relative to the edge limits of the former 3, as seen inplan, there should be provided a distance which enables the membrane,under the action of the pressurized medium, to fit around the entireformer, including the more or less perpendicularly extending surfacesthereof. A corresponding distance or spacing must also be guaranteedwhen the largest size of the former is being used. With smaller sizes ofthe molded former, there is always produced a larger distance betweenthe inner rim of the hollow body 7 and the marginal limits of the former3, so that it is possible with the same pressing plate to use a largenumber of formers of different sizes.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a pressing plate 2a having a cavity 7a whichhas a considerable depth. The depth of the cavity 7a corresponds atleast to half the distance between the facing marginal limits of thenarrow side of the cavity, but advantageously all around the halfdistance of the larger broad side of the cavity. In such a case, themembrane 8a is given such a width that it is able to be applied to thebottom surface 13 of the deep recess 7a under the action of the vacuum.The drawing of the membrane into the cavity of the pressing plate makesit possible for the former to be positioned comparatively close to thepressing plate. It is only necessary to have available such an amount ofintermediate space that the garment can be conveniently applied andremoved, if it is not preferred to arrange the former so that it can bemoved in and out.

The underlying feature of the pressing operation is that the supply ofsteam or the supply of moisture to the garment is effected only from oneside, i.e., from the former. It has been found that this is sufficientin order to bring the fibres of the garment into the condition for asufficient deformability. On commencing the pressing operation, themembrane is first sucked by means of the vacuum on to the bottom surface13 of the pressing plate, the surface being heated by a heating means ofany appropriate type. When the garment is situated on the former beneaththe membrane which is drawn into the pressing plate, the conditions asregards the cavity 7,7a are correspondingly reversed. Instead of thevacuum, a gentle pressing pressure is initially exerted on the membraneby means of a suitable medium, advantageously compressed air, and thispressure is also exerted on the garment. On removing the elasticmembrane from the heated bottom of the pressing plate, the membrane iscooled comparatively quickly and can be adapted to the steam temperaturecoming from below. As soon as the membrane has been applied under thegentle pressing pressure to the former and to the garment lying on thelatter, the pressing pressure in the cavity 7,7a is increased in apredetermined manner, whereby the required pressing effect is obtained.The former 3 is constructed to apply steam to a garment through thesurface thereof and a certain accumulation of moisture is produced inthe garment, but the formation of a condensate is excluded. It isparticularly as regards dark blue or black cloths that a special effectis obtained. No high pressure is necessary for producing a high surfacepressure on the garment. The comparatively minimal pressure for pressingthe membrane onto the garment is also sufficiently effective for theironing press to be able to be made comparatively light as regards theframe and the like. Unlike an ironing press having a comparatively rigidpressing plate covering, forces which are to be taken up with thepresent constructional form of the machine frame are not too high. Thereis also the additional advantage that the pressing plate for thepressing operation no longer has to be lowered, but the pressing plateand the former can remain in a fixed position relative to one another.The oversize of the membrane makes it possible for the membrane, despitethe necessary gap for fitting the garment on to the former and for theintroduction of the former with the fitted garment during the pressingoperation, to be applied with a pressing action in the manner asproposed, while assuring a perpendicular pressing pressure on eachdeveloped formation of the former.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a constructional form of the ironing press la,in which a pressing plate 2b is fixedly arranged and a membrane 8b canbe drawn into a cavity 7b as far as a base 13b of the latter byconnection to a vacuum source. A former 3b is arranged on a table 5b sothat it can be displaced and moved in and out, and a garment can befitted on and removed outside the pressing plate 2b. Segments l7a,l7bcan be pushed into the corresponding space between the membrane 8b andthe inwardly moved former 3b, these segments having the purpose ofkeeping predetermined parts of the areas to be pressed on the garmentaway from the pressure of the lowered membrane 8b, so that these surfaceportions are not concurrently pressed. The segments l7a,l7b, which canbe inserted, are suitably shaped to conform to the shaping of the formerand of the garment laid thereon. The mounting of these segments l7a,17bis effected directly on the pressing plate 2b, the segments beingprovided so that they are interchangeable. The mounting can be effectedby suitable clamping devices. It is also possible to arrange for thesegments to be pushed in through slots in the pressing plate, thesegments being held at their rearward edge by the limits of the slot. Inthis way, depending on the nature and size of the segments to beinserted, it is possible for only partial surfaces of the garment to bepressed by means of the membrane which is under pressure. This is morepartifularly desirable with the socalled intermediate pressingoperations, when the garments have still not been completely finished.

In FIGS. 6 to 8 there is illustrated diagrammatically the ironing pressin an upright arrangement. The upright ironing press lb includes anupright former St, which can for example be of such a size that not onlyjackets and costumes, but also coats and the like, can be pressed whilehanging. Two pressing plates 20 and 2d, which can completely surroundthe former 3c in the position in which they are pushed together, areprovided. The pressing plates 2c,2d are provided with membranes 8c,8d,respectively, of the type described above and there is also acorresponding cavity 7c,7d in the pressing plates, with it beingpossible for vacuum or superatmospheric pressure to be admitted to thecavity in the manner described. The pressing plates 20,241 can bearranged to be displaceable parallel towards and away from one anotherby press cylinders 13, and the plates can be provided with supportingrollers 19. The sleeve region is preferably recessed in the pressingplates. As shown by the cross-section in FIG. 7, the margins of themembranes 8c,8d, which are fixed in a sealed manner on the pressingplates, extend at such a distance from the upright former 30 that thesurfaces of the membranes 80,811 are of such an excessive width thatthey are able to be applied to the upright former, while ensuring aperpendicular pressing pressure against the garment hanging on theformer. By means of the vertical construction of the ironing press, itbe comes possible for the garment hanging on the former to be ironed allaround in one working operation by the pressing produced by themembranes, and in such a way that the membranes are applied to alldeveloped forms of the former in such a way that the pressing pressureis effective perpendicularly on the surface actually to be pressed. Inthis arrangement the former can be replaced by formers of differentsizes, without it also being necessary to replace the pressing plates. Alarge number of sizes of pressing formers can be used in the sameironing press. Only a single operation is necessary for ironing allsurfaces and this represents a considerable saving. The pressing plates2c and 2d can project beyond the upright former to such a height thatthe membranes are also able to press the shoulder and collar portions ofthe garment hanging on the upright former. However, the conventionalcollar-pressing device can also be provided on the same ironing press.The whole can be enclosed by a protective housing 160.

FIG. 8 shows that it is also possible with the vertical arrangement ofthe ironing press to keep areas of the garment to be treated away fromthe pressing action produced by the applied membrane. For this purpose,it is possible to use segments 170,171! which are arranged in a suitablemanner on the frame of the pressing plates. In this case, the segmentsare angle-shaped elements, seen in cross-section, which are fixed on thesides of the pressing plates. The means for the mounting of the segmentor segments can also be provided on the top or bottom edge of thepressing plate. During the intermediate pressing of an unfinished jacketor the like, it is frequently undesirable for a marginal zone on thesleeve region to be prematurely pressed. This marginal zone can beexcluded from the pressing effect, for example, by a segment 17c, andthe same can be effected as regards a row of buttons on the frontportion of the garment, for which purpose the segment 17d is extendedupwardly from the bottom side of the pressing plate and is fixed on thebottom edge of the pressing plate. Here also a clamping connection canbe provided, in order to be able at will to insert the segments or notto use them.

The ironing press can be constructed and used for all types of garments.This also applies as regards trouser presses and sleeve presses, andmore particularly with such formers which have locally different bulgedportions and the like.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for pressing contoured articles of clothing such asjackets, coats, costumes and the like comprising a contoured former forreceiving an article to be pressed and a cooperating pressing unit forpressing an article against said former, said pressing unit including apressing plate in the form of a hollow body having a cavity openingtowards said former, an impervious elastic membrane closing said hollowbody and sealed to said hollow body, the relative proportions of saidformer and said membrane being such that said membrane is engageablewith all surfaces including side surfaces of said former generallyopposing said membrane, said pressing plate having an inner surface,means for heating said inner surface, means for applying a vacuum withinsaid pressing plate for drawing said membrane into contact with saidinner surface for first heating said membrane, and means for applying apressure within said pressing plate for pressing said membrane againstan article on said former.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the depth of the cavity ofsaid pressing plate projects beyond the height and width of the profiledformer.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said membrane has unequalthicknesses on predetermined surface portions.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein segments are provided forbeing fitted between said membrane and said former, and means formounting said segments on said pressing plate.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said membrane and said formerare provided in a horizontal arrangement.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said membrane and said formerare provided in upright arrangement.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said membrane has unequalthicknesses on predetermined surface portions.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein segments are provided forbeing fitted between said membrane and said former, and means formounting said segments on said pressing plate.

1. Apparatus for pressing contoured articles of clothing such asjackets, coats, costumes and the like comprising a contoured former forreceiving an article to be pressed and a cooperating pressing unit forpressing an article against said former, said pressing unit including apressing plate in the form of a hollow body having a cavity openingtowards said former, an impervious elastic membrane closing said hollOwbody and sealed to said hollow body, the relative proportions of saidformer and said membrane being such that said membrane is engageablewith all surfaces including side surfaces of said former generallyopposing said membrane, said pressing plate having an inner surface,means for heating said inner surface, means for applying a vacuum withinsaid pressing plate for drawing said membrane into contact with saidinner surface for first heating said membrane, and means for applying apressure within said pressing plate for pressing said membrane againstan article on said former.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein thedepth of the cavity of said pressing plate projects beyond the heightand width of the profiled former.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2wherein said membrane has unequal thicknesses on predetermined surfaceportions.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein segments areprovided for being fitted between said membrane and said former, andmeans for mounting said segments on said pressing plate.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said membrane and said former are providedin a horizontal arrangement.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid membrane and said former are provided in upright arrangement. 7.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said membrane has unequalthicknesses on predetermined surface portions.
 8. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein segments are provided for being fitted between saidmembrane and said former, and means for mounting said segments on saidpressing plate.